Grandpa Blogger

Why is it mommy bloggers get all the attention? It’s about time a grandpa blogger got some attention. You often read, especially in LDS circles that so-n-so is a mommy blogger, but when was the last time you heard someone say, “Jack is a grandpa blogger!”

I have nothing against mommy bloggers. In fact, I think it is a great way for them to relieve the stress that comes from watching small kids and managing a household. It is also a good way for them to document the happenings of the day. I have daughters who blog, and I love them with all my heart.

A grandpa blogger, however, has much more to offer when it comes to wisdom and insight. I don’t mean to say that I am better than a mother who maintains a blog, but in general, we often don’t giver our elders the respect due. Our American culture seems to worship youth over age. Personally, I wish my own father would blog daily. Much of my own dad’s insights are the result of 80 years of experience on this earth.

Grandpa bloggers can record family history in their blog. Reminiscing about personal and family life long past can be a great insight to a younger generation’s traits, habits and behaviors. These stories can be sources of strength and inspiration for generations to come.

As Latter-day Saints, let’s face it, Lehi, Nephi, Alma, Mormon, and many others were grandpa bloggers. They even used tablets! Without their records, we would not have the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Likewise, the bible contains writings of grandpa bloggers.

Modern-day people like Thomas Monson, Boyd Packer and others are also grandpa bloggers. Although they may not maintain a WordPress blog, they have written their thoughts in books, and expressed them in talks. (I guess you could say, they are all v-loggers since their conference talks are on YouTube.)

This Grandpa

Blowing my own horn a bit, I probably have a better track record than most mommy bloggers. With over 1,800 posts, I’ve hardly missed a day since starting this blog. I realize I’m all over the place when it comes to content. So what! You know what’s on the top of my mind for the day, and you get to follow me places and see some great photography. I will also note I maintain a few other blogs:

Yes, I want to see more grandpa bloggers out there. I’d like to see grandpa bloggers who are woodcarvers, car enthusiast, who have served as bishops, stake presidents, and mission presidents, foster parents, who live in Utah, California, Tennessee and more. I want to read about how they deal with the economy, retirement, the political environment, their adult children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, marriage, and more. They have some great experience to share.

I want to hear grandpa bloggers talk about the days when we didn’t wear seatbelts, the mistakes they made in their youth, the good choices they made, and how they deal with stress in their golden years. I want to hear advice that works. I want to hear what they think and why.

Journals

Now, if you’re under 40 and reading this, you’re getting close to being a grandpa (or grandma) blogger. If you haven’t started recording your thoughts and history, get with it. Blogs are the new journal.

Just a warning, however, blogs are on the Internet, and no matter what security surrounds your writings, someone can figure out how to hack it. So, be careful what you place in your blog. You don’t want to write anything that could help someone steal your identity, money, and more.

Because they are on the Internet, they can also disappear with a single catastrophic failure of technology. It is for that reason, at the start of every year I have my blog printed in book form. There are several services that can take the contents of your blog and print them in a bound volume. I strongly advice you do this as books are more likely to survive time than our ever changing technology. (By the way, how are those 8″ floppy disks doing?)

Conclusion

If I were a big company looking where to place advertising dollars, I’d advertise on grandpa blogger pages. Grandpa bloggers are the up and coming trend.

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Happy Independence Day

I’m a real believer that our country was founded on righteous principles, principles that are under attack. Those brave men who on July 4th, 1776, declared their independence from Britain were inspired by God. Even though their motivations were largely based on Christian ethics, the very fact their Declaration of Independence lead to a Constitution that not only allows men to worship how they please, it allows for people to live without fear of government interference in their lives. (A concept which lately is under attack.)

Here’s to those brave men who signed the Declaration of Independence!

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How does a grandpa blogger celebrate Independence Day?

By mowing the lawn. That’s about all this grandpa had energy to do today.